Fish test circuit

ABSTRACT

This invention of a fish test circuit for the evaluation of waterway barrier bypass systems is a conduit having at least one bypass system test station, a means for providing water flow within the conduit, a means for introducing fish into the conduit, and a means for measuring the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the means for measuring the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test includes a means for determining the survival or mortality rate of the fish as they pass through each bypass system undergoing test. The test circuit may be a closed loop or a side channel of another waterway. An important feature and benefit of this invention is the capability to evaluate multiple and differing bypass systems under similar water flow, water condition and water quality conditions.

[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from, U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 10/195,085, filed on Jul. 11, 2002, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,802, on May 25, 2004, entitled “Fish Test Circuit,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to upstream and downstream passage of migratory fish, and more particularly to the determination of the efficacy of dam bypass methods and apparatus.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] As briefly reviewed hereinafter, there is considerable prior art addressing methods and apparatus to facilitate and enhance the passage of migratory fish past man-made waterway barriers, i.e. dams. What has been lacking heretofore are methods and apparatus to adequately test, evaluate and compare the performance of such fish passage systems under known and controlled conditions. The invention disclosed herein fills this long standing need.

[0006] Many methods for improving the passage of fish past man-made barriers have been proposed and are in use. Two common methods include fish ladders and barging the fish from one side of a dam to the other. Other systems include Zimmerman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,361) who discloses an integrated bypass fishway comprised of tubes which enable fish to swim on a near natural level with the original streambed without ladders, locks, etc. Zimmerman includes devices which attempt to mimic some of the natural aspects of the original stream.

[0007] I have invented a method and apparatus for the passage of fish to the sea (U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,913) which includes the creation of water flow within a main conduit and in one or more collection tubes flowing into the main conduit from spawning areas. Lighting within the conduit is provided to attract and guide the fish toward the downstream side of a dam. The fish are preferably siphoned over the dam.

[0008] Eikrem et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6 273.639) teaches a more complex conduit fish bypass passage system that involves a plurality of valves and valve actuators disposed in series within the conduit. The valves form chambers in the conduit which upon their selective opening and closing urge the fish through the conduit.

[0009] With varying degrees of success, many other methods and devices have been conceived and put into use that are designed to allow the free passage of migratory fish past waterway barriers. However, the art is silent with respect to methods and equipment that are suitable for a comparative evaluation of such fish bypass systems under controlled and identical conditions.

[0010] Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus that permit the comparative evaluation of waterway barrier fish bypass systems. It is a further object of this invention to provide such an apparatus and methods that permit the simultaneous evaluation under similar environmental conditions of the multiple bypass systems undergoing evaluation. It is still another object of this invention to provide such apparatus and methods that provide a quantitative determination of each test system's effectiveness. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system that is safe to its operators, the migratory fish and the environment. It is a final object of this invention to provide an evaluation system that is inexpensive to fabricate and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] This invention of a fish test circuit for the evaluation of waterway barrier bypass systems preferably comprises a closed loop conduit having at least one bypass system test station, a means for providing water flow within the conduit, a means for introducing fish into the conduit, and a means for measuring the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the means for measuring the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test includes a means for determining the survival or mortality rate of the fish as they pass through each bypass system undergoing test. An important feature and benefit of this invention is the capability to evaluate multiple and differing bypass systems under similar water flow, water condition and water quality conditions.

[0012] In addition, the fish test circuit of this invention may also include known means for controlling the environmental conditions and quality of the water within the conduit. Alternative embodiments of this invention may also include known methods and apparatus for illuminating conduit sections and viewing the fish within the conduit.

[0013] These and many other features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the fish test circuit of this invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of alternative embodiments of this invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of this invention which includes potential or known bypass systems available for testing.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of this invention wherein the test circuit is a side channel of another waterway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, fish test circuit I for the evaluation of waterway barrier fish bypass systems comprises closed loop conduit 10 having at least one bypass system test station 20. The invention also includes a means for providing water flow within the conduit, a means for introducing fish into said conduit, and a means for measuring the effectiveness of the fish bypass system(s) under test. Each of these means is well known to those skilled in this art and for clarity purposes are not shown in detail in FIG. 1. By way of example, FIG. 1 depicts the downstream passage of fish 100, i.e. clockwise flow of water 200.

[0019] Water flow, of course, may be initiated and maintained by pumps, especially for a test circuit without any grade. Also, air jets or mechanical paddles, for example, may also be used to push or pull the water in one direction around the circuit. Preferably, the water in the test circuit may be urged first in one direction, i.e., clockwise, and second in the opposite direction, i.e., counterclockwise.

[0020] Means for introducing the fish may be dumping from buckets or nets, or pipeline from hatching or tanker truck or adjacent waterway.

[0021] The means for measuring the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test includes the determination of the viability of fish 100 in the test loop both before and after exiting each bypass system. This is accomplished by known fish counting methods and equipment, for example visual or electronic counting of fish. Also, physical examination of introduced and surviving fish may assist as a measure of the effectiveness of the bypass system(s) under test.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment, any of several known means is also provided for controlling the environmental conditions and quality of the water within the test loop. For example, water temperature, flow rate, turbidity, etc., may be monitored and controlled. Also, a particular test may include a partial trip around the circuit, or several or many trips around the circuit.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, in an acceptable alternative embodiment, conduit 10 may be comprised of a plurality of sections 15, each section including a means for illuminating 40 the section. Such illumination may be used to urge and control the desired transit of the fish through the test loop conduit and the bypass system under test. The water flow 200 in FIG. 2 represents the upstream passage of fish 100. It is also acceptable, as shown in FIG. 2, to incorporate water barriers 30 to simulate waterway dams, obstacles, constrictions, etc.

[0024] Continuing reference to FIG. 2, it is also desirable to provide known means for viewing 50 the fish within the test loop. Conduit sections 20 have upstream end 16 and downstream end 17 and a means for viewing fish included between these ends. The viewing capability along with the illumination means will facilitate the monitoring and counting of fish and the determination of acceptable water conditions and quality.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, diagrammatic representations of known fish bypass systems to potentially test and evaluate include a barge bypass system 21, a fish ladder 22, a fish plume 23, and/or part or all of a fish pipeline system such as disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,913. Of course this invention may be effectively used to test and evaluate any other known or future developed fish handling or control systems, fish bypass systems, equipment and methods. As stated hereinabove, the incorporation of waterway barriers 30, such as dams, grates and screens, for example, in the test loop is also acceptable. Also, a sonic control system may be included as a test module, for testing the response of fish to various frequencies and amplitudes. For example, a sonic diverter system for fish has been developed by Sonalysts, Inc. of Connecticut, U.S.A., which creates a sound that drives fish away from the sound and toward a desired location.

[0026] Conduit 10 may be formed as a closed pipe, an open trough or a simulated stream bed. Its materials, dimensions, circumference, width and perimeter are not critical to this disclosure as long as they adequately accommodate the fish bypass system to be evaluated, the desired test parameters and the environmental conditions required for the fish and bypass system test.

[0027] Also, conduit 10 need not be in a closed loop. For example, referring to FIG. 4, an open loop bypass in a stream flow may be provided. There, a side channel 2 from, for example, a natural waterway 3, is provided. The side channel 2 may be further divided into a plurality of different testing channels 4. In each testing channel is a fish bypass test station 5, with monitoring means 6 a and 6 b, before (upstream) and after (downstream), respectively, for each bypass test station 5.

[0028] In the open loop test circuit depicted in FIG. 4 water flow may be provided by the grade from the upstream to the downstream ends of the circuit. Also, in this case, the means for introducing fish may simply be the open channels leading to the test station(s) 5. For the open loop system, the means for measuring the effectiveness will be similar to, if not the same as, those for the closed loop system described above, namely visual observation, counting and physical examination.

[0029] Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A fish test circuit for evaluation of waterway barrier fish bypass systems comprising: a closed loop conduit comprising flowing water and at least one fish bypass testing station; wherein each fish bypass testing station comprises a bypass unit adapted to move fish around a waterway barrier such as a dam, and a system for determining the survival rate of the fish as they pass through the bypass unit including a system for removal of the fish from the conduit and for physical examination of the fish.
 2. A fish test circuit as in claim 1, wherein said at least one testing station further comprises a waterway barrier selected from the group consisting of a dam, a grate, and a screen.
 3. A fish test circuit according to claim 1, further including a system for controlling the environmental conditions and quality of the water within said conduit.
 4. A fish test circuit according to claim 1, wherein the closed loop conduit comprises a plurality of said stations in series, each with a different bypass unit adapted to move fish around a waterway barrier.
 5. A fish test circuit according to claim 4, comprising structure adapted for viewing fish upstream and downstream of each different fish bypass unit.
 6. A fish test circuit according to claim 4, wherein said fish bypass units are selected from the group consisting of a barge system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, a fish pipeline, and a portion of a fish pipeline.
 7. A fish test circuit as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of fish bypass testing stations comprise a dam structure and comprise bypass units selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline.
 8. A fish test circuit as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of fish bypass testing stations comprise a grate structure and comprise bypass units selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline.
 9. A fish test circuit as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of fish bypass testing stations comprise a screen structure and comprise bypass units selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline.
 10. A method of evaluating waterway barrier fish bypass systems comprising: providing a conduit having at least one fish bypass test station; providing water flow through the conduit; providing fish in the conduit; and measuring the effectiveness of the fish bypass station under test by removing fish from the conduit and physically examining the fish.
 11. A method according to claim 10, comprising providing a plurality of bypass test stations having different bypass units and comparing the effectiveness of the different bypass units.
 12. A method of evaluating waterway barrier fish bypass systems according to claim 11, wherein comparing the effectiveness of the different bypass units includes determining the survival or mortality rate of the fish as they pass through each bypass unit.
 13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said fish bypass test stations comprise a dam structure and comprise a bypass unit selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline.
 14. A method as in claim 11, wherein said fish bypass test stations comprise a grate structure and comprise a bypass unit selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline.
 15. A method as in claim 11, wherein said fish bypass test stations comprise a screen structure and comprise a bypass unit selected from the group consisting of: a barge bypass system, a fish ladder, a fish plume, and at least a portion of a fish pipeline. 